Diocesan News09 Apr 13

Local Church Leaders Receive 40,000 copies of Luke’s Gospel (Derry & Raphoe)

A plan to give out 40,000 free commemorative copies of St Luke’s Gospel across the Maiden City took a significant step forward today. This afternoon (Monday 8th April) local church leaders and the organising team took delivery of the gospels from the printer. The initiative, entitled ‘A Free Gift For All’ involves churches from across all parts of the community.

The four church leaders, Monsignor Eamon Martin, Bishop Ken Good, the Reverend Dr Robert Buick and the Reverend Peter Murray, along with the project organisers received the delivery on Monday (8th April) at Altnagelvin Industrial Estate.

Under the scheme – entitled ‘A Free Gift for All’ – the specially illustrated gospels will be hand–delivered to every home in the city. The team behind the initiative hope to recruit up to 1000 volunteers to help with the distribution. To that end a special Training Evening for volunteers was held in Kilfennan Presbyterian Hall, also on Monday 8th April.

‘A Free Gift for All’ was officially launched at a public event in the Foyleside Shopping Centre in January. The organisers have planned for distribution to begin as the weather improves and the evenings lengthen.

A spokesperson for the organisers said “The church leaders want to emphasise their support for the UK City of Culture 2013. They feel it is important to remind the city that its roots and origins were in Christian culture”. He continued, “They have chosen the Gospel of Saint Luke because it brings a message of good news for the poor, the marginalised and those who felt cut off from society. The fact that this initiative comes from all parts of our community simply adds to the good news”.